David Wallace: Relentless Donnacha Ryan typified Munster ethos

Donnacha Ryan is a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and his work-rate is second to none. His attitude is infallible and he leaves it all out there on the pitch every week. You never see him have a quiet game.

Donnacha Ryan is a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and his work-rate is second to none. His attitude is infallible and he leaves it all out there on the pitch every week. You never see him have a quiet game.

He typifies the Munster ethos and will be a massive loss because he is a link to the past as well. He came with that attitude and wanting to learn and being the best player he can be.

That's what Munster is about, being the best you can and doing it as a team.

I remember one of my first meetings with him was when we were in the analysis room with a few computers and he came up to me and wanted me to bring him through different ways of playing as an openside flanker.

I'm looking at this guy, he's a 6ft 7in second-row, he's nowhere near the build of a No 7 yet he wants to learn running lines off the back of the lineout and side of the scrum.

He sat me down for half-an-hour and asked me to go through a few things with him, and that just showed to me his willingness to learn and be the best of what he could be by leaving no stone unturned.

He'll look for every edge he can get and that speaks volumes to me about his attitude as a player. He'll be sorely missed.

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